Estate Homegrown Wet Hop Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sierra Nevada Estate 2012

Appearance: Unsurprisingly given Sierra Nevada’s pedigree for great looking beers, Estate pours an impressive dark gold/amber color with a massive three-and-a-half fingers of creamy, rocky, bone-white head. The head leaves swaths of gorgeous lacing on the glass as it sluggishly travels to settle in on the beer like the first snowfall on just-frozen ground. The beverage is just slightly hazy, bordering on crystal clear. There is evident carbonation, but it does not stream crazily off the bottom of the glass as in some beers. This beer looks incredible.

Aroma: Unfortunately, the nose cannot quite follow the impossibly perfect opening. The beer has a very faint nose that one must really strain to smell. There are floral hop aromas and just a hint of malt. That metallic, quintessentially Sierra Nevada aroma is there, too, something this reviewer has never found pleasing. It is hard to really say much else, as there just is not much there, which is surprising both for Sierra Nevada and for being a wet-hopped ale. It really just smells like a weaker Celebration.

Taste: Whew, the taste is salvation from the very underwhelming nose. In another surprising turn of events, this one is not as hop forward as expected, again given the Sierra Nevada namesake and the fact that it is a wet-hop ale. The malts start off the taste with a mild, balanced, earthy, biscuity sweetness. Slowly and almost unnoticeably, the taste transforms over to the floral, citrusy hops, leaving notes of tangerines, oranges, and, especially, grapefruit and grapefruit rind. This is also, finally, the first beer this reviewer has tasted the “onion” notes that come from certain hops, which is a fantastic additional dimension for this beer. Finally, the aftertaste leaves a pleasant, moderate bitterness in the back of the throat. There is lots of really good stuff going on here.

Mouthfeel: This one slides down smooth and slightly sticky. It is just thick enough to remind the drinker that they are not drinking water, and the carbonation is perfect. There is not much astringency, but the finish is rather dry, thus making the great taste new each time. It is pretty basic for the style, but very satisfying.

Overall: I would really like this beer to be available year-round. It puts Sierra Nevada’s flagship pale ale to shame, and is simply one of the best examples of the wet-hopped style. Only Surly Wet and Three Floyds Broo Doo can beat this one this year. It is entirely worth the ~$9 price of admission, though the bottle is a bit large to finish alone. This one would fly off the shelves in a six-pack, or even in a four-pack. It may be difficult for Sierra Nevada to keep up, due to the “estate” grown claim of the product. Pick this one up if it is still on the shelves around you. 16.5/20

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 03:35:53 | More by THANAT0PSIS

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-22-2013 15:23:38 | More by InspectorBob

Smitty1988

Arizona

3/5  rDev -27.9%

05-21-2013 19:40:43 | More by Smitty1988

searsclone

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-21-2013 04:05:24 | More by searsclone

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-20-2013 17:32:52 | More by touchmeimsac

jmtpi

New York

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

05-15-2013 03:17:56 | More by jmtpi

MCDub

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-10-2013 14:33:09 | More by MCDub

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-09-2013 00:10:04 | More by cadaugherty

Joshgonzales79

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-08-2013 23:54:43 | More by Joshgonzales79

Dr_S

Alabama

5/5  rDev +20.2%

05-07-2013 03:25:06 | More by Dr_S

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-30-2013 00:08:45 | More by scottbrew4u

jibbyvonjibb

California

4.24/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Drank a couple months ago.
A: amber color. Bit hazy w sediment that swirl then settle. Frothy head.
S: earthy hops. Caramel sweetness. 
T: caramel. Earthy hops. Hint of peppery spice. Apple cider. Figs. Tangy finish.
M: medium body, more than usual for ipa. Some butteriness.
O: A malty, earthy ipa. Not like regular westcoast, but more earthy. Caramel sweetness makes this more of a Scottish Ale with more hops. Still amazingly drinkable, never cloying. Serve on special occasions, maybe with an apple pie.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 16:54:30 | More by jibbyvonjibb

slickerryan

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-25-2013 02:41:00 | More by slickerryan

timontheroad

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-21-2013 14:12:06 | More by timontheroad

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-20-2013 14:01:42 | More by drgonzo2k2

jreindl

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-20-2013 05:35:53 | More by jreindl

MacStinson

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

04-15-2013 01:26:39 | More by MacStinson

NickSMpls

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-14-2013 23:52:18 | More by NickSMpls

Skott1123

Ohio

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-13-2013 21:04:05 | More by Skott1123

Cdunk11

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-12-2013 23:48:19 | More by Cdunk11

Hopheadjeffery

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-07-2013 15:42:23 | More by Hopheadjeffery

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: It has a beautiful hazy golden/orange color to it. It has a nice off-white head that dies down very slow and leaves nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of piney resin, grapefruit, citrus, floral hops and sweet bready/caramelly malts.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a some nice grapefruit and citrus notes, with some piney resin, sweet caramelly malts and a touch of breadiness. Great balance.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a very nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with great flavors and aromas. This beer has held up very well considering it's age, I can just imagine it fresh!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 20:45:18 | More by SebD

metter98

New York

4.14/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is hazy orange in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high beige head that gradually died down, consistently leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of pine resin, earthy and grapefruit hops are present in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of ruby red grapefruit and earthy hops along with a light to moderate amount of bitterness and hints of underlying caramel malts. The hop flavors linger though the finish, which also has some notes of herbal hops.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer has an interesting profile of fresh hop flavors and is quite drinkable because it isn't overly bitter.

Note: 2012 vintage

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 01:58:16 | More by metter98

hustlesworth

Ohio

4.74/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A- that unfiltered ipa stuff really gets me goin. It's all murky and muddy and rusty colored but held up against a light it's a warm, glowing, bright orange apricot. The hat on the fella is sensational, cream colored and uniform, wrinkly and hoppy membranes surface and a crazy beautiful amount of sprayed lace. Cool label art with birdies and butterflies and a cottage and shit.

S- even at almost a year old, vibrant hop aromas are jumping right out at my face with grapefruit, orange, mandarin, lime, mango and pineapple with deeper herbal notes of mild pine and passion fruit. Toasty malt and biscuit notes make me very happy as well. Nice lemony grassy bite as it warms. Another swirl releases cheddar cheesy type aromas.

T- I take the first sip and say "oh man" with foam all in my mustache. Resinous hoppy herbal cheesy meatiness hit immediately, tar-like and bitter yet incredibly soft and smooth. My buddy grows hops and believe it, this is what it tastes like when you pluck one and pop it in your mouth. The tropical fruits from the aroma take a backseat to smashed grapefruit peels, mild peppery spice, and bitter orange with layers of herbal resin like thyme and bay laurel. Cheese notes continue on with sharp cheddar and nutty emmentaler and although it sounds crazy, it's amazingly good and it is indeed what fresh hops taste like. It's like peeling off a bract and licking up the yellow powder like a cat drinkin milk. Though the sublime bitterness persists, malt nudges in with toasted biscuit, very mild sweetness and nothing more. Malt complexity is not necessary here. The slightest hint of alcohol transforms the grains into maduro wrapper and cured hardwood. So all in all, it's an overtoasted biscuit smeared with hop resin then topped with melted cheese and a dash of pepper dressed like a pirate holding an unlit cigar in its mouth, about to walk the plank. Finishes with lingering... Awesome... Cheesy hop bitterness.

MF- this really blew me away. So creamy and finely carbonated its like some big ass beer but it's not. Adding the second half of the bottle the half empty glass, the head becomes nitro creamy and is like a happy pillow for my lips. The bubbles are tight, velvety, and complimentary to the rich feeling medium body and though they seem understated, they provide plenty of giggling hop filled burps. The combination of sticky lips, pleasant dryness and alpha acid astringency has me sittin here makin faces like an old timer.

D- well. Safe to say this was worth it. One of the best IPAs I've ever had and further evidence that Sierra Nevada is BAD AS F when it comes to the hops. 6.7%? Not so bad. This is sheer drinkability with a hop monster attitude. I love the 'wet hop' idea and process and I get a hard on for organic beer and locally sourced food, local businesses etc. (even though I'm in Ohio, you get the point). Things made at the source feel better, and this beer feels like pretty girls, flower petals, well worn jeans and a beat up baseball glove.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:08:27 | More by hustlesworth

brn9000

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

03-31-2013 15:17:30 | More by brn9000